Start that project - NOW!

I have been struck by something lately, in my own marketing and in the marketing of my clients.
We all have big ideas for what we can be doing, but we're not acting on them. This relates to last week's post, as well as my post on fear a few months ago.

What is your big plan?
Are you going to write a one-person show?
Are you going to create a web talk show?
Are you going to produce a production of Twelfth Night for you to star in?
Why aren't you doing it?
•I need more money.
•I need to wait until I have more time.
•I need a collaborator.
•I don't know exactly how to do it.

There are ways to fix each of these problems:
•I need more money.
-Kickstarter.com, ask friends and family, apply for grants
•I need to wait until I have more time.
-Sleep less, find people to help, get an intern.
•I need a collaborator.
-Ask your friends. Post an ad online. Take classes to meet like minded people.
•I don't know exactly how to do it.
-Ask for help. Read a book. Research. Get a mentor

Now none of these are perfect answers, but that leads me to my point:

The circumstances will never be perfect.
If you wait for them to be, you'll never do anything.

So, dream big! Play big games! And JUST DO IT!

Make a list of deadlines, make a budget, list the actions you plan to take.
Get it on paper, and share it with a friend who will keep you accountable.

Make it happen!

Creation. What's missing from your marketing?

I was coaching an actor this week, and I noticed she had written on her goal worksheet: "2012 will be the year of content!"

She, like a lot of actors, hasn't been discovered. She's done some improv and sketch. She's made a few digital shots. She's done some plays, she's made some connections, she's made some money, but she's still agent-less, and waiting tables. And, she happens to be one of the most talented people I know. No joke - she's special.

Here's what we decided for her: If she works within the system (agents, managers, casting directors) it could take her years to quit that restaurant job. If she takes the skills she already had and sold them, maybe that's a quicker way in.
Maybe she needs to make a pilot? Maybe she needs to start a web series?

Here's the upside:
•She knows how to do it.
•It's fun work to do.
•Maybe she'll sell it and make money.
•Maybe she'll post it and draw advertisers.
•Maybe having accomplished this goal will make her more marketable to agents.

The downside:
•It's hard work and it won't pay anything.

What I'm saying is, if success isn't coming to you quickly enough inside the paradigm of the industry, consider creating something yourself. Why not?

It worked for Franchesca Ramsey. She's the actress who put together "Shit White Girls Say To Black Girls," put it on youtube, and within a month was signed with Gersh.

You could:
•make a digital short.
•vlog.
•write sketches.
•write a screenplay.
•write a one-person show.
•write a pilot.
•improv, improv, improv.

Marketing is a combination of making use of every opportunity that comes your way, as well as creating them. Maybe that's what's missing in your career.

They'll do your taxes...

Monday, February 6, 2012.

I was standing in line in front of the Equity building at 5:05am today. The line wrapped around the block toward Times Square. I was standing in front of the McDonalds that was still serving dinner to very rough looking Giants fans, finishing up their Super Bowl revelry.
Why?

VITA!

Here's what they say:

Members of AEA, AFTRA & SAG who have a paid-up union card with them may obtain worksheets, make appointments and even get their taxes prepared, if they're ready. The line will form as usual in the early hours and we will let people in and upstairs at 8 am to begin the process.

165 West 46th St - 14th Floor New York, NY 10036 212-921-2548 Office Hours: 10:30 am – 4 pm – starting Monday February 6, 2012 VITA is open Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday (never on Tuesday)

Do you all know about this? It's amazing. I got in the big line today because it's the first day that they accept appointments. I get in line, every year, on the first Monday in February to sign up for a future appointment. Mine is in a few weeks.

But even if you don't go today, you can show up during the hours/days above, and wait for a turn. They see up to 10 people a day.

Free! Taxes, done by experts. What a great perk of being a union member!!

Refuting the "5 Awful Things" blog...

Did everyone see this on Facebook, Twitter, and Tumblr?

5 Awful Things Nobody Tells You About Being an Actor

This horrible article was posted on the blog of Cracked.com. I get it-I do; Cracked is trying to be funny, but there's just some wrong stuff in here, that I think can damage an actor who is "struggling".

And that's where I want to start. I find the term struggling to be dismissive. Everybody struggles! Glenn Close struggled to get Albert Nobbs made. Yet if you called her a struggling actor, you'd sounds crazy. Let's say a non-eq musical theatre actor does a showcase for $25. Is he struggling? Only if he chooses to. He's acting! Isn't that the goal?

I personally refuse to struggle.

Actors become actors because they like to act. You'd be insane to do it for the money. So, when you gauge success, shouldn't the question be: Did I get to act? And when I did, did I enjoy it?

These days finding a venue to act is as easy as logging onto youtube. For the price of a flip-cam and the basic editing software that come on a Mac, you can have your own show. Anyone who wants to act, can! And there's community theatre, and self-produced shows, and open mic nights...


One thing I have learned from working with people I love and respect is that you can make show business any percentage of your life you want. If you want to tour, and go from job to job without a real home - that's say... 90%. If you want to do a showcase show once a year - that's maybe 5%. The key to fulfillment is to figure out what that percentage ought to be for you, and then doing it. Your faith can't be exploited if you know what you want!

And here's just one flat lie from the article: According to the article, producers pay a hefty fine to cast non-union actors. Nope. Non-union actors can perform in up to 3 SAG commercials or legit projects before they have to join. The producers apply for a Taft-Hartley waiver for the actor. It's inexpensive, and entirely common. After 3, the actor has to join if he wants to work again, yes. But most actors would join at that point.

And as for commercials: Most actors do commercials to make money to help them fund the projects they'd rather be doing. Yes. Some look at them as a necessary evil - a paycheck that will help them pay their rent so they can do the non-paying workshop of a new play they love. But, ya'll, commercials are fun! Don't you think it was fun to pretend to swish mouthwash in your mouth for a few hours? And then to collect check after check after check after check? FUN!
(And, being that there is some randomness to it all, at some point the randomness will work in your favor. At some point, randomly, it'll be your turn; that's just math.)

"You won't make enough money to live on." Um, I do. I know a bunch of people who do. And furthermore I know plenty of people make some money in the industry and have additional thriving careers. You are not a failure if you make $200 a year acting. You're only a failure if you set unrealistic goals, pursue them weakly, and lament your outcast state.

I could continue to pick this apart, but what's the point? If this discourages you, fine. The truth is that it's terribly hard. But with proper marketing, proper strategies, and most importantly - a proper way of thinking about your career, you are guaranteed success.

I congratulate every actor. You put a lot of yourself on the line on a regular basis, and it makes you strong. It makes you strong as a performer, and it makes you strong as a person. I wouldn't be half the man I am today if I'd never set foot on a stage. I'm glad I was encouraged.

Cracked.com - you're just plain wrong.